Poem in October : Themes

Themes

Themes

Childhood and Memory: One major theme of the poem is the importance of childhood memories. On his thirtieth birthday, Dylan Thomas takes a morning walk and goes to the Welsh countryside, where he grew up. He sees beautiful nature and sunlight. He climbs a hill. Suddenly, he remembers his own childhood. He sees images of fruit, birds, sunshine, and green fields, which remind him of the days when he was a little boy walking with his mother. These memories are full of innocence, joy, and wonder. Thomas feels that the child he once was still lives inside him. The memory is so powerful that he feels the child’s heart and tears in him. Through this theme, the poet shows that childhood is a special time of purity and happiness. Even when we grow older, those moments stay alive in our hearts.

Nature and the Passage of Time: Another major theme is how nature shows both the present and the past. On his thirtieth birthday, Thomas notices autumn rain, the sea, birds, and clouds. These autumn scenes remind him of the passage of time and his own aging. Yet, while standing in nature, he also feels the beauty of summer and spring, as if the seasons of his childhood return to him. Nature becomes a bridge between his present life (adulthood) and his past (childhood). The changing weather—rain turning to sunshine—shows how time changes, but also how memory can bring back old joys.